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| Asthma House - Liz Weekes |
| A water polo star shows how to keep your home asthma friendly. |
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Liz Weekes, one of water polo's highest profile players and an asthmatic, shows how a few simple changes and fresh approaches around the house can help provide low-allergen living.
Success for Liz has not always been easy, given that she has had asthma from an early age. As a result, she has learned to manage the problem with the correct preventative medication, crisis planning and reducing exposure to asthma-inducing allergens in her living environment.
What is Asthma?
Asthma is an inflammatory condition of the airways which causes them to narrow in response to a wide range of trigger factors. The narrowing is caused by muscle constriction, inflammation of the lining of the airways and mucus production. The main symptoms are wheezing, coughing, shortness of breath, and tightness in the chest. These symptoms vary from person to person.
In Australia, 1 in 4 children, 1 in 7 adolescents and 1 in 10 adults suffer from asthma symptoms. Here, over 2 million people have the condition and around 700 people die from it each year. Asthma is the major cause of hospitalisation for children and is estimated to cost the community over $580 million annually.
What triggers Asthma?
Symptoms are made worse by 'triggers' including certain drugs, changes in temperature, chemicals and strong smells, cigarette smoke, colds and flu, exercise, inhaled allergens (eg. house dust mites), pollens, moulds, animal hair, some foods and food preservatives, flavourings and colourings.
Research has revealed that up to 85% of people with asthma are allergic to the house dust mite. Millions of these microscopic creatures live in warm moist places and although they are not visible to the naked eye, they are found in the dust that accumulates in bedding, carpets, furnishings and even clothing. Other irritants around the house which are of great risk to asthmatics are cats, pollens and some fungi (moulds).
Asthma Prevention
1
Carpets are best replaced with hard flooring. Mites find it harder to live on floor surfaces such as wood, cork, vinyl or tiles. These surfaces can be more effectively cleaned of all allergens and should be mopped weekly.
If carpets are needed, loose rugs are preferable. Rugs should be put out in the sun for three hours every month and then, if possible, washed.
If fitted carpets are to be used, select those with a foam underlay manufactured with a proven anti-microbial layer which will effectively control house dust mites and help negate other home-based asthma triggers. Regular vacuuming should be part of the house cleaning routine.
2
Install easier-to-clean vertical or roller blinds as opposed to heavy drapes which are unlikely to be regularly and properly cleaned.
3
Furnishings with cushions and old stuffed fabric upholstery may contain huge amounts of mite allergens. Such allergens are impossible to remove. In the short term, some control of exposure may be obtained with washable, dense, cloth covers. Vacuum seats, sofas and couches on a regular basis. In the long term, choose leather or vinyl covers in solid or covered frames which do not allow allergens to accumulate.
4
When purchasing bedding, check the label to ensure it can be regularly washed. Alternatively, encase your mattress and pillows in vinyl / water-proof fabric or special dust mite covers which can be easily removed and cleaned.
(A Dunlop mattress made with UltraFresh will give effective control of the 2 million or so house dust mites that feed and breed in your bed each night, as well as checking the growth of bacteria, moulds, mildew and fungi). Disturbing fact - a pillow 8 years old may contain up to half its weight in dust mites.
Pillows should be washed regularly. Hot washing (above 55 degrees Celsius) of bed linen in soapy water will kill dust mites. Change pillows and mattresses after their prescribed life span. Expose blankets, quilts and bedspreads to direct sunlight for several hours each week and wash them every 2 months.
5
Dust all surfaces 2 or 3 times weekly with a damp cloth. Choose a vacuum cleaner with a good filtration system. When vacuuming, keep the windows open to flush out airborne dust, wear a mask, or better, get someone else to do it!
6
Good ventilation is important. Damp houses have more mites, moulds and bacteria and are associated with a range of respiratory disorders. Under floor slab heating dries carpets from underneath and prevents mites from living there.
7
Exposure to allergens is reduced if the pet sleeps and spends most of the time outside. Weekly washing of the cat has also been advocated, but this is likely to be harmful to the cat's skin - see your vet for advice.
8
Some airborne substances including tobacco and wood fire smoke, perfumes, paint chemicals and gases increase the effect of allergens. Choose specially developed wall paints which are more resistant to moulds. A range hood over the stove helps remove steam and cooking smells, while a refrigerated reverse cycle air conditioning system can help to dehumidify the air, preventing the moisture build-up which may lead to mould growth.
Liz Weekes has been chosen as the ambassador for the Dunlop Foam and Fibre Group's new national partnership with the seven State and Territory Asthma Foundations in Australia.
Liz's Sporting Background
Born: 22 September, 1971
Home: Sydney
Event: Water Polo
Position: Goal Keeper
Honours: Australian Team Member since 1995
AIS Squad since 1991
Recent Achievements: 1999 World Cup Silver
1998 World Championships Bronze
1996 Olympic Year Tournament Silver
1995 World Cup Gold
One of water polo's highest profile players, Liz Weekes is striving to be in the first ever Australian Olympic women's water polo team.
Liz started playing water polo at the age of 15. It was not long before she was chosen for the state and Australian schoolgirls team before being inducted in the Australian squad at only 19.
Liz made her Australian debut in 1995. She enjoyed immediate success as the team took out gold in the World Cup. Drawing from this success, Liz has gone on to become a permanent fixture in the Australian team with brilliant performances in major international tournaments in Italy and Holland earning her the title of "best goal keeper" for the championships.
Recently, Liz has been one of the main advocates in helping women's water polo win a twenty year battle to compete in the Olympic Games. So passionate were Liz and her teammates about the acceptance of their sport, that they went as far as storming IOC meetings to gain recognition for their cause.
In the lead-up to Sydney 2000, there is no doubt that Liz will be training hard to make sure she is between the posts for her country in the women's first Olympic campaign.
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More Info
For more information on living with Asthma, contact the Asthma Foundation on 1800 645 130.
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Disclaimer
All Fact Sheets and other material on the Our House website are provided as a general information service only and should not be relied upon as a substitute for the advice of a properly qualified tradesman. Neither ninemsn nor its licensors (including the Nine Network) assume or accept any responsibility for, and will not be liable for the accuracy or appropriate application of any information whatsoever in any Fact Sheet or other material on the Our House web site. Your use of the Our House web site is governed by this disclaimer and the ninemsn's Terms of Use.
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